Quarterback Sam Darnold answers questions during a news conference, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Florham Park, N.J. Darnold was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Sam Darnold poses for photos after a news conference introducing him as the New York Jets’ selection from the first round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Former USC quarterback Sam Darnold answers questions during a New York Jets news conference on Friday in Florham Park, N.J. Darnold was selected No. 3 overall in the NFL draft on Thursday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Sam Darnold poses for photos before a news conference introducing him as the New York Jets’ selection from the first round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Sam Darnold poses for photos after a news conference introducing him as the New York Jets’ selection from the first round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Sam Darnold answers questions during a news conference, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Florham Park, N.J. Darnold was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Sam Darnold of USC gestures after being picked No. 3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

USC’s Sam Darnold, right, poses for photos with commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected by the New York Jets during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

ARLINGTON, Texas — In the recent history of NFL quarterbacks from USC, there has been variance on the length of time it took for the passers to reach the field.

Carson Palmer sat his entire rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. Matt Leinart waited only three games with the Arizona Cardinals. Mark Sanchez started Week 1 for the New York Jets in 2009.

Coach Todd Bowles declined to rule out any scenario when he spoke with reporters at the team’s facility in Florham Park, N.J.

“There is no timetable,” Bowles said regarding when Darnold might start. “We gotta see how fast he learns, and how fast he grasps everything, and then get some experience. We’re not going to throw him in there (unprepared), but at the same time, we’re not going to hold him back either.”

A start-or-sit dilemma was of little concern to Darnold following his selection.

“Whatever happens happens,” Darnold said. “The coaches have a job to do, and we have a job to do as players. That’s to do whatever the coaches say. Whatever role a coach tells me to do, whether it’s a backup or a starter, I’m going to star in that.

“That’s what I did at ’SC when I was the scout-team quarterback (in 2015). I was trying to get the defense ready every week. That’s just my mindset and that’s the mindset I’m going to take with me to the next level.”

The Jets were in search of a quarterback after trading to move up from No. 6 to the No. 3 pick, where they nabbed the 20-year-old Darnold over Wyoming’s Josh Allen and UCLA’s Josh Rosen, two other passers who went later in the top-10.

But while Darnold is slated as the franchise’s quarterback of the future, there’s not an immediate need to start him.

Last month, the Jets re-signed veteran Josh McCown to a one-year, $10 million contract.

McCown, 38, is a journeyman passer who appeared on eight teams in his first 14 seasons but is also coming off one of his best campaigns. In 13 starts in 2017, McCown completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,926 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating of 94.5 was the second-best of his career.

The other quarterbacks on the roster include newly signed former Viking Teddy Bridgewater, plus previous Jets draft picks Christian Hackenberg (2016, second round) and Bryce Petty (2015, fourth round).

On the NFL Network broadcast, draft analyst Mike Mayock described it as a favorable position for Darnold and the franchise.

“They can play him when he’s ready,” Mayock said, before contrasting the situation to that of Carson Wentz, the Pro Bowl quarterback who the Philadelphia Eagles drafted second overall in 2016.

When Wentz was drafted by the Eagles, they also had veteran Sam Bradford on their roster, allowing the rookie to sit if needed. Instead, they determined he was ready to start and dealt Bradford before the season opener.

With the Jets, Darnold will be tutored by offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who also held the same position at USC in 2009 during Pete Carroll’s final season.

Darnold arrived in New Jersey for his introductory press conference Friday. He met with teammates, coaches and other team officials. A day earlier, he was eager to arrive and begin preparations. One reporter wondered if he would carry a chip on his shoulder after slipping past the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks.

“No,” Darnold said. “I’m just going work the way I normally work. I’ve always had a really good work ethic because of my parents and how I was raised. I’m just going to work as I usually do and I believe good things are going to come out of that.”

Joey Kaufman is the USC beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Since joining the Orange County Register in 2015, he has also covered Major League Baseball and UCLA athletics. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America. Kaufman grew up in beautiful downtown Burbank.

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